View full sizeYfat Yossifor | The Saginaw NewsThe Michigan Baseball Foundation, which owns Dow Diamond, has bought three properties near the stadium.

MIDLAND, MI — The Michigan Baseball Foundation is expanding.

The foundation, which owns Dow Diamond and the Great Lakes Loons, bought three properties close to Dow Diamond, acquiring property at 506 E. Buttles, 718 E. Buttles and 402 George in Midland.

“It’s about two city blocks,” Great Lakes Loons general manager and MBF vice president Paul Barbeau said. “Right now, we have no definite plans for it. We’ve had various discussions at this point.”

According to Barbeau, acquiring the property northwest of the stadium gives the foundation control over the neighborhood near Dow Diamond.

“We want to play a role, having some control over that property in a way that’s complementary to what we have at Dow Diamond,” Barbeau said. “We want the property developed in a way that is consistent with everything else that is happening around it.

“The risk would have been that the property would have been sold to various other people with ideas and plans that were not consistent with what has been established. Our goal is to enhance the community and create more economic development within the community.”

Barbeau believes the properties will complement the development at the former McKay Press property northwest of Dow Diamond.

“We’re very excited about the project about to get underway at the McKay Press site,” Barbeau said. “Four stories of offices, restaurant space … we want to continue that momentum.”

Barbeau said that long-term plans for the new property may be set aside for some short-term use.

“We’re going to see what we have to do as far as parking this season because the McKay Press site will be a construction zone,” Barbeau said. “So we may use the property for parking this season. We might lose around 100 parking spots because of the construction.

“But longterm, we want to use the property to complement what is already in the community.

There are no plans, according to Barbeau, to build a hockey arena and bring the Saginaw Spirit to Midland.

“There are no definite plans for the property, but that’s not been one that’s been discussed,” Barbeau said.

Spirit co-owner Craig Goslin also dispelled any rumors that the team would move to Midland.

“Our short-term and long-term plan is to be in Saginaw,” Goslin said. “There was a time a year-and-a-half, two years ago when we looked at another option in case the facility did not get the millage passed.

“But the millage did pass. We’re quite happy with the facility and grateful to the taxpayers in Saginaw County. We have no intention on moving.”